Spotting the signs of modern slavery

Modern slavery is a term which covers different types of exploitation, including forced labour. For the avoidance of doubt, forced labour is defined by the International Labour Organisation as:

‘any work or service that is exacted from any person under the menace of any penalty and for which the person has not offered him/herself voluntarily’.

According to the “Global Estimates of Modern Slavery,” the construction sector accounts for about 16% of cases of forced labour worldwide, and in the UK, the Office of the Director of Labour Market Enforcement (ODLME) continues to assess the construction sector as high-risk. With approximately 2 million people working in construction in the UK, there is a real cause for concern.

The ODLME considers the following factors as contributing to the level of risk in construction: 

• Scale - the sector is one of the largest employers in the UK with multiple different occupations which negatively impacts on identifying workers and their employment status
• Labour type - a large population of self-employed workers and subcontracting which makes it difficult to monitor relevant worker records and establish oversight
• Scope - the scope of projects ranges from small scale single home projects to large infrastructure or commercial and residential development that bring challenges with regards to worker visibility and access to sites

Watch Stronger Together’s webinar to hear more about a recent case study in construction which examined the current capability of suppliers to tackle modern slavery, and the outcomes of Fast Forward audits across a number of dry-lining and facilities management suppliers.

Spotting the Signs

Due diligence is required through the implementation of effective and comprehensive policies and processes. However, training workers on ‘spotting the signs’ at a site-level could make a real difference to those being exploited. 

Stronger Together’s award winning ‘Concrete’ video shows how perpetrators  control and manage their victims, how they infiltrate a construction site, and the signs that lead one observant supervisor to make a call to the police.

In summary, exploited workers may display the following signs:

Physical appearance 

• Malnourished
• Neglected and scruffy 
• Dirty and poor hygiene
• Tired and exhausted
• Drugged or drunk
• Wearing the same or incorrect clothing
• Show signs of injuries that may be the result of an assault.

Psychological signs 

• Frightened and withdrawn 
• Anxious or stressed
• Angry or agitated
• Traumatised and confused
• Unable to express themselves

Reluctant to ask for help 

• Avoid eye contact
• Afraid to talk to strangers or the police
• Reject help when offered

Few or little possessions

• No identification documents e.g. passport
• No personal items e.g. money, purse, wallet, jewellery 
• Little or no food

Isolation and control

• Unable to speak English
• Unable to communicate effectively
• Under the control and influence of others e.g. allowing others to speak for them
• Constantly looking over their shoulder
• Seeking consent from someone else in the workplace
• Limited or no social interaction with work colleagues

Transport to and from site

• Not allowed to travel on their own - a driver drops them off and collect them
• Appear as if they want to work all hours and days available
• Use transport that isn’t of the “usual” type or standard

Visible auditing signs – Desktop Checks 

• Workers residing at the same address
• Workers with the same bank account details 
• Workers with the same mobile phone numbers
• Workers with the same next of kin

What to do next 

You can learn more by attending Stronger Together’s Tackling Modern Slavery in Construction and Property workshop 

For further information on our full range of training and consultancy support for the construction sector, please contact [email protected].